Week 5, runs 1 and 2. A jog is still a run

[PeggySusi]

Three weeks ago I was on week 4, so I should be on week 7 by now.. but I’m still on week 5..🙄😩

After wk5 run1, my kids and their families came to stay. Priority became cleaning, bedmaking, shopping, then they were here, and it was cooking, more cleaning and fun walks and visits to the beach and fairy houses in the woods.. (see photos). It was lovely, but boy! was I tired! Then they left, more cleaning, washing.. then.. I went down with a sinus infection and any running was out of the question.

So.. this week, better, but still shattered and seriously wondering whether this running idea was just ridiculous and impossible. Luckily a few posts on here put me straight. I gave myself a good talking to. On Tuesday, the excuses ran out.. time for me to run outside too.. I dithered over whether to start again at week one.. but decided to just repeat my last run, so week 5 run 1. It was hard (as usual) but strangely enough didn’t seem quite as tough as the same run did almost three weeks ago.

This morning I moved on to run 2. As many others have said, the next few runs are the biggest mental hurdles to get over. I hadn’t actually made my mind up whether to run today. A friend had asked me to go for a walk with her, so I thought I might just leave it until tomorrow. My friend can’t run as she has had back surgery, but she is an extremely fit gym regular and she likes brisk walking. Because of her back, she prefers walking on level ground, so we went to the old railway line. I simply kept to a very (very) slow jog, matching her walking pace. It worked really well because there was no pressure, the pace was slow but consistent, and rather than feeling anxious as I usually do, I felt confident of keeping it up for the two blocks of eight minutes. Also, I didn’t have to worry about finding my earphones or whether to have music, or an audiobook or podcast to help the time to pass, because it was just our usual stream of chat/gossip, and the time did indeed seem to pass much more quickly than usual.

Best of all, she wants to come with me to do the same for the final run of week 5.. the next big jump to twenty minutes.. and after today.. I feel much more positive.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Just splendid... all of it... family, fun, and the wonderful exhaustion from, the comings , and goings, the to-ings and fro-ings... I love those times !

Your sinus infection, not so wonderful , and I really empathise with that one! But, you went out... and more importantly.. you listened to what was going on with your body..

Your run with your friend sounds just grand. Running... at a pace to match your friends, in companionship. Just perfect.

As Coach Bennett says, it may not always the run we plan...but gosh... what a lovely one? Thank you for sharing this. A lovely read to start my day. x

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏Family and your health always come first wise lady!! Such lovely days & creating special memories for all. Oh how very special to have a friend to jog alongside with!! It’s great the pace worked for both of you! Sometimes our legs need a rest and we run so much easier thereafter!! Well done & please continue to let us know how it’s going! Xx

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

That sounds like a perfect partnership, and keeps you running at a gentle pace, good to know you are out and about running after some quality family time